Thought You Might Like to See This

Here it is...our stroller with all three babies in it! The crawfish festival was more like a fair and less like a festival, so we were kind of bummed about that. It did however give us the chance to try our stroller with the toddler seat. This was Sullivan's first ride in a stroller. How crazy is that? Because she rides in a convertible car seat like Owen and Kathryn and we don't have any type of "snap and go" system, that's just how it's worked out. She did pretty well with it because the seats recline all the way, but it was insanely loud at the festival. Between the first ride in the stroller, the band playing and all of the different music blaring from the rides and games she was on system overload. Once I got her to sleep she was fine, but I could tell she didn't know what to think for a while.

We've ordered yet another stroller (our first single stroller!) and it should be here soon. (If you are ever in the market for baby gear, check our albeebaby.com. We pretty much order all of our "gear" from there. They typically have the lowest prices, free shipping on orders over $100 and regularly have 15% off site-wide sales) The Valco is awesome, but we need a stroller for the few times we take just one baby somewhere or when we go somewhere as a family and Bruce and I can both push a stroller. That one reclines all the way too so Sullivan can ride in either stroller until she can sit up. When you have three babies all under the age of 16 months, there really isn't a perfect set up. We like to have options!

Kathryn loved sitting in the toddler seat and I lathered her up with sunscreen and made sure she kept her new sun hat on the whole time. The shade for the toddler seat is next on our list to buy. Anyway, I thought y'all might like to see how this looked. We got a kick out of it. Of course, to get this picture I had to stop pushing them around and as you can tell, Sullivan wasn't a big fan of that.

What a sight! (Don't worry...I had Sullivan buckled in the whole time, I had just unbuckled her so I could take her out right after I snapped this picture)

A sisters' Wiggles watching party

My little man and me

Sullivan's Two Month Stats

Hi all! Today I took Sullivan to her two month well-baby visit. Our little lady weighed in at 12 pounds, 12 ounces and 24 inches long. That's the 90th percentile for weight and 95th percentile for length! I think it's safe to say that Sullivan and I are a breastfeeding success story.

The doctor encouraged me to get her on a schedule so that she's not eating quite as often. I'm still pretty much feeding on demand - about every hour and a half to two hours - and she doesn't need to eat that often anymore. She doesn't take a paci really and that can be a helpful tool when trying to get a baby on a schedule. I guess tomorrow I'll start her on a real schedule. It's just been easy to feed her whenever she wants to eat because sitting down at specific times with Owen and Kathryn running around isn't always practical.

We went to a new pediatrician off base today. Bruce and I decided to enroll the babies in a different type of insurance (the same insurance I have that allowed me to deliver off base with the doctor of my choosing) so they can see any civilian doctor we want them to see. I loved their new doctor! She was extremely sweet, knowledgeable and patient. I met her in the delivery room when I had Sullivan and I thought it would be nice if we could go to her since she was somewhat familiar with our family. After one of the residents on base missed some of Sullivan's RSV symptoms and didn't do any type of swabs or a full exam even, I decided I was done taking chances and it was time to find someone we could trust. Bruce and I are really excited about this change and the care our babies are now going to receive and thankful we are able to do it.

No pictures today, but we're going to the crawfish festival this afternoon so maybe I'll take some then and post later. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

A New Title

I've changed the title of our blog. I think it's very appropriate don't you? We are definitely in the business of raising babies these days - it's pretty much all we do. But I have to say, it's a great business to be in with endless rewards. That's not to say Bruce and I couldn't use a nap every now and then and a few extra date nights. When we find time for that, I'll let y'all know. Haha!

Sullivan is two months old today and I can honestly say the last two months have flown by. But that's how it goes with babies. She is a sweet and smiley little girl who loves to nurse, cuddle and relax in her swing. Sullivan isn't big on taking a paci unless someone other than me gives it to her and she's exhausted. She loves to be swaddled at night, isn't crazy about her bouncy seat and is already wearing 3 months to 3-6 months clothing. I can't get over how long she is. Her new trick this week is sticking her tongue out and cooing when we talk to her. It's so cute! Sullivan is quickly shedding her newborn ways and stretching out her awake hours during the day and sleeping longer at night. She's the perfect addition to our little family! (Well, not so little any more.)

Owen and Kathryn are sweet as ever, but they are developing strong preferences, personalities and even little attitudes at times. This can be slightly challenging to deal with because they're still so young. Bruce and I are trying to find the right way to correct such behavior while keeping their age in mind. Time outs seem to work and calm them down. Our friend Cindy recommended one minute for each year of life. I thought that was a great suggestion and that's what we're going with. I think with twins this behavior might happen earlier because they are always competing for the same toys, space, food and affection from their parents. I can see how that would be frustrating for them. That being said, they have also started to hug and kiss each other and will walk up to Bruce and me and give us a hug or kiss for no reason at all. When that happens, it makes the fits and little attitudes much easier to handle. They are becoming little people and less like babies with each passing day. As a mom, this makes me both excited and sad. But like I said earlier, that's what happens with babies.

Their favorite foods recently include bean and cheese quesadillas, my Grandmother's lasagna, pb & j sandwiches and a little cheeseburger with ketchup from Five Guys. They've only had one cheeseburger from there, but they devoured it. I was shocked. Both babies love fruit and have yet to ever turn it down. Owen and Kathryn love peaches, pineapple, pears, mandarin oranges and apples. We just started offering apples cut into tiny pieces and luckily they're big fans. I have a good time offering new foods and seeing who likes what. For right now, they're not very picky and that makes meal time easier.

On Friday Bruce had a quick procedure that guarantees us Sullivan will be our youngest child. So it is now my turn to take care of him. He took such good care of me throughout both pregnancies, after each delivery and when I came down with mastitis recently. It feels good to return the favor and baby him a little bit or as much as he'll let me. Bruce is recovering well and, per his doctor's orders, is resting and not lifting anything. I have to say he's one tough cookie. Usually patients who undergo such a procedure are given something beforehand to help them relax and feel less pain. He was given no such thing - just a shot to numb up the "area." We're fortunate everything went smoothly and it's over and done with. I know he really feels that way.

My Mom goes home tomorrow and we are all sad to see her leave. I've gotten used to her being here and so have the babies. I enjoy her company and always have a good time with her. Mom gives me great ideas when it comes to the babies and I like hearing how she did things when we were little and trying some of her tricks on them. Bruce and I are thankful she was able to be here when he had his surgery. There's a comfort in knowing a nurse is in the house. I'm still sleeping back in Sullivan's room and my Mom sleeps in the guest room across the hall when she's visiting. As strange as it sounds and despite the fact I'm 25 years old, I like knowing she's across the hall in case I need her. I guess it's true that you never stop needing your mom no matter how old you get. Thanks Mom for always being there for us!

I think that covers everything that's been going on around here. For our next big adventure, we're heading home to Huntsville in two weeks. We're going to have the babies pictures made downtown with a new photographer and I can't wait. I think she's going to do a beautiful job - it will be Owen and Kathryn's 16 month portraits and Sullivan's three month portraits. Oh how I love having my babies' pictures made. Until next time...

It was just after nap here and Owie was still a little groggy and Kathryn was a little grumpy. They were watching the new Wiggles dvd they got for Easter. Sometimes the Wiggles is all that will calm them down when they're in a tizzy. Go with what works right?

Snoozing on the swing with Grandmother. Her hair is really starting to come in and it's so blond!

Cutie pie! Doesn't she look grown up?

This is one I meant to post last week and forgot to. How sweet is that?

Check out the awesome haircut my Mom gave Owie. My Grandmother was a hair dresser and taught my Mom how to cut hair. She's going to be Owie's new stylist I think. He's a handsome little thing if I do say so myself.

Doesn't that smile just make you melt? I love her little cheeks!


Mom and the babies before she had to head home last weekend.

Because it's probably been a while since some of you have seen my brothers, I thought I'd post a picture Mom sent me from Easter Sunday. Aren't they handsome? They're the sweetest brothers in the whole world...I'm so proud of them.

We're Healing

This past week was tough...tough and frightening. I am happy to say that we are all healing - emotionally and physically. Last week I blogged about Sullivan's doctors appointment and that the doctor basically said it was her first cold and not to worry. Well, last Sunday Sullivan's cough turned into a nasty bark and she was having trouble catching her breath when she'd cough. Finally on Sunday night I noticed her nostrils were flaring and she was turning red around the eyes when she would have a coughing fit. Then she threw up because she was gagging and couldn't catch her breath. That was enough for me, off the ER we went.

They didn't even triage her, just took us straight back to a room and several doctors and nurses flew in and started her on oxygen, a breathing treatment, chest x-rays, RSV and flu swabs, an IV, nasal suctioning, etc. Sullivan was obviously having a hard time getting enough oxygen and it was one of the most terrifying moments of my life; she had gotten worse since we left home and I kept thinking how glad I was we left when we did. About an hour later, the diagnosis came back and my sweet baby was RSV positive and also had pneumonia. By 1:30am we were in an ambulance headed for the University of South Alabama's Women's and Children's Hospital. They had our room waiting for us and hooked Sullivan up to oxygen after the EMTs removed her from their portable tank and put her on the monitor. For 18 hours she received oxygen and then was taken off of it on Monday afternoon. She had to be monitored for a full 24 hours to make sure she was capable of keeping her oxygen levels up on her own. During this time she received deep nasal suctioning, a couple more breathing treatments and constant evaluations. Her lungs improved as the hours went on and the doctor said there was a huge improvement in the way they sounded on Tuesday compared to Monday. Because the babies were sick at home too, I requested that Sullivan be allowed to stay one extra night. That was one extra night for her to rest in a quiet place with monitoring and build up her strength and one more night for the babies to get over their colds. The doctors were fine with that and on Wednesday afternoon Bruce came to pick us up.

My wonderful Mother took off on Tuesday and drove down to take care of Kathryn and Owen and relieve Bruce so he could come visit us in the hospital. She kept everything running smoothly at home and we couldn't have done it without her. I was able to rest a little easier in the hospital knowing Bruce had some help. The day we left the hospital I got sick - I think I would have been fine but because I was so sleep deprived and stressed my body just gave up. Sullivan came home on antibiotics to treat the pneumonia and is getting better. She still has a cough but it's a wet cough which is what we want. The babies are feeling much better too. Their colds are almost gone, Kathryn's molar is almost totally through and Owen's bottom teeth have made an appearance. Bruce and I are feeling a little more seasoned as parents and we've really stuck together through this parenting rough patch which makes me happy.

When I took Sullivan to the doctor last week she had what I thought was a severe case of baby acne. I asked the doctor specifically if it was acne or could it be a symptom of something worse since it was on her torso and head. She said "no" and said it would clear on its own. She was WRONG! Viruses are sometimes accompanied by a rash and at that point she could have done a nasal swab to detect RSV. I'm trying not to kick myself for not knowing about viral rashes - had I known such a thing existed I would have demanded further testing.

So to recap...take your baby to the doctor or ER if you see:
Flaring nostrils
Chest retractions (this is when your baby sucks in the muscles between the point where the ribs and stomach meet)
Redness around the tissues of the eye when coughing or not
A barking cough (sounds like the noise a seal would make when "barking")
A rash - usually on the torso, but not always
Any kind of discoloration around the nose and mouth - blue, grey, purple

I'm hoping this information will help others out there who follow our blog or just run across it so their little ones won't have to get as sick as Sullivan did before receiving treatment. Nothing tugs at the heartstrings of a parent like a sick baby. I thank God that she is better and was taken care of by such fine doctors and nurses at Biloxi Regional and Women's and Children's in Mobile. Nothing in this world matters more than the health of my family and I have so much to be thankful for.

Here are a few new pictures of K and O from this week. Unfortunately Sullivan didn't get to go see the Easter bunny yesterday. The doctor wants her to avoid crowds for a couple of weeks and I'm not taking any chances. I did dress her up though in the Easter dress Uncle Scott and Aunt Maegen bought her so I could get a picture of her with her Easter basket. She looked beautiful! All of my babies did in their new outfits. Happy Easter everyone!

Waiting in line to see the Easter Bunny

It went pretty well. Everyone was looking at the camera and no one screamed. That's a huge improvement from our trip to see Santa. I would have loved to have gotten smiles out of them but I can only ask for so much.

The Easter Bunny brought new shoes, Yo Gabba Gabba and Wiggles DVDs and a couple of other goodies.

Bruce taking Owen for a ride in the new wagon my Mom brought down for them. It's too cute! It has two sippy cup holders, seat belts and a door so they can climb in and out on their own. They love it!

He is the sweetest little boy and can't get enough of being outside.

Kathryn is showing off her new backpack harness here. Yes, I said harness. I used to swear up and down that I would never put a harness on my child. Then I had twins. Then I had another baby 13 months later. And then I took them all to the park. It's a safety device I will have to rely on if I ever try an outing like that by myself.

We found a baby turtle on our walk.

They have to be thinking "This is the life."

Playing on the back patio with Grandmother. Our little Kathryn is full of personality!

Enjoying the warm weather...in just another month or so it's going to be insanely hot.

My Mom's Easter gifts to the babies. Aren't these chairs adorable? Now they have a place to sit that is just their size. Thanks Mom!

Feeling better and looking gorgeous

Showing off her Easter treats. I tried to find a basket that matched Owen and Kathryn's. They didn't have one exactly like theirs in purple, but this was a pretty close.